Research Areas
Astrophysics
Our research in astronomy and astrophysics focuses on studying the formation of our Milky Way Galaxy, using positions, velocities, and chemical compositions of stars. Additional astrophysics research on radio galaxy jets in included under computational physics.
(Dr. Laird) Using spectral information obtained by telescopes we can reveal chemical compositions and atmospheric parameters of remote stars. BLUE: actual spectral data; BLACK: the stellar atmosphere model is adjusted in terms of the chemical composition, pressure and temperature until it fits the measured data.
Theoretical Physics
Much of the Department's research effort centers around unifying interest in computational physics. Members of this group are interested in the application of the methods of computational physics to a wide variety of research areas, including:
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Materials Physics
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Modling the human vocal folds
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Astrophysics
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Rayleigh-Benard Convection; Lattice Boltzmann Methods
Materials Science
The materials physics group is interested in the experimental investigation of electrical, magnetic and optical properties of solids, with special attention paid to those materials which have application in device technology.
